Singapore has an excellent public transportation system that makes sightseeing convenient and easy. Once you’ve gotten a sense of the metro map, you’ll have no problem zipping from one part of town to the next. English is spoken everywhere, and signs are in English as well. In fact, Singapore is one of the easiest and most comfortable countries to navigate in Southeast Asia. And as long as you’re not comparing prices to nearby Thailand or Vietnam, you’re in for a lovely stay.

For ideas on things to see and do, read our list of the top attractions in Singapore.

01. Jewel Changi Airport

Often voted as the best airport in the world, the 10-story-high Jewel Ghangi is not your ordinary transportation hub. In fact, you should put it on your list of must-see places to visit while in Singapore.

In addition to over 300 shops, the airport’s most famous feature is the 40-meter-high HSBC Rain Vortex, an indoor waterfall surrounded by over 2,000 trees. Each of the airport’s three terminals (all seamlessly connected) also has its own garden. There’s a cactus garden in Terminal 1; a sunflower garden in T2; and a very famous butterfly garden at T3, home to more than 40 species of butterflies, a six-meter grotto waterfall, and plenty of flowering plants.

The airport is also home to two movie theaters, an entertainment corner with vintage arcade machines, an indoor canopy park with garden mazes and stunning viewing decks, and a 12-meter-tall (that’s four stories high) slide both children and adults are welcome to use.

Official site: https://www.changiairport.com

2. Merlion Park

Famous and most visited park in Singapore. Singapore’s Merlion is just what it sounds like–the figure of a mythical creature that has the head of a lion and the body and tail of a fish. The Merlion represents the city’s humble start as a fishing village combined with its traditional Malay name Singapura, “lion city.”

The structure, which was relocated to Merlion Park in 2002, where it can overlook Marina Bay, weighs 70 tonnes and stands at 8.6 meters tall, spouting water from its mouth in a fountain.

The “Merlion Cub” sits nearby, only two meters tall but a hefty three tonnes, and there are five additional official Merlion statues throughout the city. Merlion Park is an ideal spot for photo-ops, whether you are taking a selfie in front of the iconic creature or capturing the magnificent views from the park as it looks out over the bay.

Address: One Fullerton, Singapore

3. Marina Bay Sands

The opulent Marina Bay Sands resort complex includes a high-end luxury hotel, a mall with a canal running through it, the ArtScience Museum, and the Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck–a vantage point for taking in the entire city. The Skypark’s viewing deck and infinity pool are found in the ship (yes, ship) that tops the hotel. Only hotel guests are allowed to use the infinity pool, but anyone can visit the observation deck.

From the Skypark, you can see the innovative double helix bridge, the port, the Gardens by the Bay (101 hectares of land converted into waterfront gardens), and the impressive skyline.

While up there on top of the city, guests can grab a snack or a coffee at the rooftop restaurant or pick up some keepsakes from the souvenir stand. You can purchase a photo of yourself green-screened in front of the massive hotel as it’s all lit up at night, but the cost is steep at 50 Singapore dollars–better to ask a fellow tourist to snap a photo of you if possible. The elegant opulence of the Marina Bay Sands exemplifies Singapore’s style and status as a major international city in Southeast Asia.

Address: 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore

Official site: http://www.marinabaysands.com/

4. Gardens by the Bay

Once you’ve glimpsed this beautifully designed green space (from the top of the Marina Bay Sands, perhaps) you won’t be able to stay away. Wander through the Bay East Garden, perfect for enjoying the vibrant plant life and escaping the city bustle for a moment.

You won’t want to miss Supertree Grove, where you’ll find a cluster of the iconic, futuristic structures designed to perform environmentally sustainable functions. Then, head to the Cloud Forest Dome to see the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and learn a bit about biodiversity. Check the website for ticket sale prices and tour times.

Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Singapore

Official site: http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html

5. Botanic Gardens

Not to be confused with the Gardens on the Bay, the Botanic Gardens are also worth a visit. Singapore received its first UNESCO World Heritage nomination for its botanical gardens, and with good reason. The city can sometimes feel like a concrete jungle, albeit a clean and comfortable one, but the botanic gardens preserve pieces of Singapore’s wilder heritage.

Here, a walking trail leads to the gardens’ heritage trees, which are conserved as part of an effort to protect the city’s mature tree species. Make sure to visit the impressive National Orchid Garden as well.

Other popular things to do include visiting the eco-garden, eco-lake, bonsai garden, sculptures, and several other formal gardens.

Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore

Official site: www.nparks.gov.sg/sbg

6. Singapore Zoo

Billing itself as the world’s best rainforest zoo, the Singapore Zoo is a pretty impressive place. The facility is clean and inviting, and the animals appear well treated, with plenty of lush vegetation and habitat space.

The orangutans are particularly impressive, and visitors can watch as babies and adults alike swing high above their platforms and snack on fruits. There is also a large chimpanzee family, zebras, meerkats, a komodo dragon, mole rats, white tigers, kangaroos, and many other creatures.

Guests can observe feedings for some of the animals. Allow at least three hours to make your way around the zoo.

If the zoo doesn’t satisfy your need for getting close to wildlife, there’s also the Night Safari, River Safari (including a giant panda forest), and the Jurong Bird Park. Park hopper passes are available if you plan to visit more than one of the wildlife parks.

For a unique and personal wildlife experience, try the Singapore Zoo Breakfast with the Orangutans. This hassle-free tour includes transportation from and to your hotel, allows you half day to explore the zoo, and has an optional upgrade to enjoy breakfast in the company of the zoo’s much-loved orangutans.

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore

Official site: www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo

7. Orchard Road

One could be forgiven for coming to Singapore and doing nothing but shopping, as this is a world-class city for style and designer chic. The Orchard Road area is a great place to start a shopping spree, as there are high-end stores at every turn. You’d expect nothing less from a neighborhood that boasts 22 malls and six department stores. There are also four movie theaters, including an IMAX cinema, and a KTV karaoke establishment.

If you get hungry while burning through all that cash, there are plenty of eateries in the neighborhood serving international food.

Official site: http://www.orchardroad.org/

8. Singapore Flyer

If the observation deck at the Marina Bay Sands doesn’t quite do it for you, try taking in high tea while looking out over the city from the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest giant observation wheel. Choose from several different packages that allow you to be served and pampered while enjoying a view that encompasses not only the Singapore skyline but as far away as the Spice Islands of Indonesia and Malaysia’s Straits of Johor.

There are several different ticket packages to choose from, and each includes access to the multimedia Journey of Dreams exhibit, which delves into Singapore’s history and the creation of the Singapore Flyer.

Flights last 30 minutes and run from early morning until late at night, so you can choose which view of the city you want to enjoy: the beginning of another bustling day or when Singapore is aglow after dark.

Address: 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore

Official site: www.singaporeflyer.com

9. Chinatown

If you’ve ever visited China, Singapore’s Chinatown neighborhood will bring you right back here. From the small mom-and-pop stores and authentic Chinese food to the bright red lanterns, there’s excitement and hustle in this district. You can visit the Chinese Heritage Centre and see the impressive and beautiful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple.

Another temple worth seeing is the Buddha Tooth Relic temple. If you’re up early enough (think 4am), you can hear the morning drum ceremony. Or you can just check out the closing ceremony in the evening after viewing the relic.

Heritage markers have been installed throughout the neighborhood in English, Japanese, and simplified Chinese, so visitors can better understand the significance of the area. But this neighborhood is not just a testament to the influence of the Chinese throughout Singapore’s past. This is a progressive neighborhood (with free Wi-Fi for all), and it’s home to the trendy Ann Siang Hill area, where the quaint bistros and upscale boutiques could be at home in any Western city.

Official site: www.chinatown.sg

10. Sentosa Island

Singapore isn’t exactly known as a beach destination, but if you’re really craving some fun in the sun, Sentosa Island is the place to find it. Siloso Beach is a good spot for getting in beach time, and visitors can play volleyball on free courts or go kayaking and skimboarding. There are several other beach attractions as well, plus an Underwater World aquarium, where you can swim with dolphins.

A must-see on Sentosa Island is the Merlion, Singapore’s famous statue that has the head of a lion and the body of a fish. You can take an escalator to the top of the statue and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area. Adventurous types will want to check out The Flying Trapeze and the SeaBreeze Water-Sports @ Wave House, where you can try your hand at flying strapped to a water-propelled jet pack.

Official site: www.sentosa.com.sg/en

Where to Stay in Singapore for Sightseeing

Singapore is relatively easy to explore and has a metro system that makes getting around simple. Most of the hotels listed below are in the city center, on or near the popular Orchard Road, a great area for shopping and sightseeing. A couple of these are hotels of distinction and are noteworthy attractions in Singapore. All of the hotels listed below are popular and highly rated.

Visit here to get best Hotels !!

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Sentosa’s two-kilometer-long beach is divided into three sections: Palawan Beach, Siloso Beach, and Tanjong Beach. The entire length of the beach is artificial, created by reclaiming land from the sea and then filling it in with imported sand brought in from Malaysia and Indonesia.

Off Sentosa Island, Singapore also offers other small beaches worth exploring.

Whether you’re looking for an active holiday or just some quiet time under the sun, here’s our list of the best beaches in Singapore.

1. Tanjong Beach

Located on beautiful Sentosa Island, Tanjong Beach is the most secluded and remote of the three beach sections. This doesn’t mean you’ll be completely alone there – Sentosa Island receives over 20 million visitors per year – but Tanjong Beach offers better chances of finding a quiet spot under the palm trees.

The beach is even quieter on weekdays. Arrive in the evening to catch sight of twinkling lights in the distance as cruise ships pass by.

The beach sits on a crescent-shaped bay, and it’s flanked by plenty of trees that offer a break from the heat. The sand here is at its whitest, and the sea is warm and perfect for swimming. Plus, Tanjong Beach is dog friendly, so you’ll often see humans jumping into the water with their canine companions.

Need a change of scenery? The Tanjong Beach Club is a major attraction here and the only place on this beach where you’ll get food. It offers a swimming pool, deck chairs, and cabanas, as well as live music events twice a month.

2. Siloso Beach

Siloso Beach is where the action is on Sentosa. If your idea of fun in the sand includes things like canoeing, beach volleyball, or even water jet packs, this is where you should be.

For dining and shopping options, it also doesn’t get much better than Siloso, where you’ll find everything from the standard beach eateries offering fast food and pizza to Hawaiian-themed menus, fresh fruits, and even poke bowls. Shopping outlets and cafés are dotted all throughout the coastline, offering plenty of options for when you need a break from the golden sands.

Siloso is Singapore’s hippest beach, with live music, cafés, and some of the coolest attractions on the island just steps away from the sand. While no sun loungers are allowed on the beach, you can bring a towel and just lie back on the soft sand for a while – though be warned, this isn’t the kind of quiet beach where you can just relax with a book.

Want the best views around? The nearby MegaZip zipline zooms you over the water and coastline for 450 meters of stunning scenery. There’s also a 50-meter-tall bungee jumping tower, rock climbing opportunities, two luge tracks (including one with neon lights you can ride at night), a chair lift ride, and rollerblading options.

3. Palawan Beach

Of the three sections of Sentosa Beach, Palawan Beach is the most visually famous. It’s located right in the middle of the island, at the end of an impressive suspension bridge with viewing towers on each end.

Climb all the way up for 360-degree views of the water, the tropical jungle, and the coastline. Then head back to walk on the softest white sand as you hear the swaying palm trees all around you. This is Singapore’s best swimming area, with calm, warm blue waters.

Palawan is said to be the closest point to the Equator in Asia and is full of photo opportunities. It is walking distance from Tanjong Beach and though it offers more attractions and activities, it’s still much more relaxed than lively Siloso. You’ll find lots of families here, as well as plenty of solo travelers and couples looking for a place to chill out and have a picnic.

When you’re ready for some fun, try swimming out to the tiny island near the shore, visit the indoor entertainment center KidZania, try the immersive virtual environment at MOSH!, or sit at one of the many oceanfront cafés and restaurants for a mouthwatering meal.

4. Changi Beach

Changi Beach is part of Changi Beach Park, a 3.3 kilometer-long park with stretches of golden sand popular among the locals. Changi Beach doesn’t have the hip, modern look that you’ll find on the beaches at Sentosa Island – and that’s part of its magic. The area retains the feel of a kampong, a type of traditional floating village common in many parts of Asia.

You can get to Changi via the Changi Ferry Terminal, which sits right next to the beach. Although occasional crocodile sightings can be a little daunting, this is still a popular swimming spot.

If you prefer to stay safe on land, you’ll find plenty of BBQ pits, rental shops for kayaks and canoes, and many restaurants for alfresco dining. Changi is perfect as a lounging beach – people flock here to catch the sunset or to watch low-flying planes heading to the nearby airport.

There are plenty of places to camp near the beach, or you can head to the northern tip of Changi to find the area’s best resorts. The Sea Sports Club here offers kayaking courses, and you’ll find a walkway that connects all the way back to the beach.

5. Punggol Beach

For those wanting to leave hectic Singapore life behind for the day, Punggol Beach will feel like a tropical paradise. The site of the 1942 Sook Ching Massacre and later a very rural area where wild pigs lived, Punggol has been cleaned up and re-imagined over the years. Today, it offers a quiet escape in Northern Singapore, where you can dig your toes into the golden sands or jump into the azure waters for a cool swim.

Punggol is a favorite destination for photographers and nature lovers, with the many boulders on the beach offering stunning views as the sun both rises and sets over the water.

Just steps from the beach, you’ll find Punggol Settlement, an area with many restaurants and eateries, plus places to rent bicycles, explore the fauna and flora at the Lorong Halus Wetlands, and walk along Punggol Promenade (where the Punggol Jetty is located) and Punggol Waterway Park.

6. St. John’s Island

Singapore’s many offshore islands offer plenty of adventure for nature lovers. Luckily for visitors to St. John’s Island, that means not only beaches but also caves and mangroves that can be explored on short hikes.

St. John’s beaches are narrow but golden and soft, with plenty of beautiful coral reefs around. They’re a great place to sit back and relax while listening to the waves crashing on the shore. The island is also home to swimming lagoons, picnic grounds, and a rustic vibe that will appeal to those wishing for a quieter getaway.

St. John’s was once known as “cat island” because of the many free-roaming cats that inhabited it. Over the past few years, however, a successful trap-neuter-return program headed by the SPCA has reduced the population to a manageable number that’s now watched over by dedicated caretakers.

St. John’s can only be visited on a day trip, since there are no accommodations on the island. The one exception is for renters of the Holiday Bungalow, a single property that can be shared by up to 10 people.

To get to the island, you’ll have to catch a ferry from Singapore’s main Marina South Pier. The last boat back leaves at 5 to 6pm depending on the day of the week, so make sure you don’t miss it if you don’t have accommodations on the island. There’s no food available for sale on the island either – if you have a picnic in mind, make sure you bring your own food.

7. Lazarus Island

Connected to St. John’s Island by a bridge, Lazarus Island is a well-kept secret and one of the most private beaches in Singapore. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the bridge to the C-shaped lagoon and one of the whitest soft beaches around.

Especially on weekdays, the tranquil beach is almost always deserted and perfect for a stroll or a swim in the clear blue waters.

Lazarus is popular for picnics, too. It offers plenty of shade in the form of coconut trees lining up the beach and a rain shelter for the occasional afternoon downpour. There are no facilities on the island (no food or accommodation available and no toilets), so anybody visiting should bring anything they need for the day.

With no entertainment options available and no development anywhere to be seen, visitors arriving on Lazarus Island can focus on sunbathing, swimming in the clear waters, and taking walks on the beach.

If you’re ready for more adventure after a few hours of relaxation, walk back to St. John’s Island and rent a boat to explore Kusu and other nearby islands.

8. East Coast Beach

Singapore’s largest park stretches for 15 kilometers right against the ocean on the southeastern coast. Like in most of Singapore, the beach here is man-made, built on reclaimed land, and offers plenty of sunbathing spots. The massive size of the park means there’s plenty of space for visitors to kayak, windsurf, and swim in their own corner, away from the crowds.

Arrive in the early morning, and you’ll find tai chi classes on the beach and plenty of people in silent contemplation at Bedok Jetty, which looks out over the calm blue waters.

Cycle and walking paths, plenty of oceanfront restaurants, camping sites, and BBQ pits make this a great weekend destination, which means it’s better to arrive during the week if you want peace and quiet. Sit under the swaying coconut palms and you can easily forget that a bustling metropolis is just minutes away.

Xtreme SkatePark, cable skiing, and cycling circuits are available for those who want a more active getaway. There’s no shortage of cafés in the area, either, and the park even offers shower activities for a quick rinse off after a day playing in the sand.

9. Pulau Ubin Island

Pulau Ubin was once a very active granite quarry, but as the industry slowed down in the area, tourists started to arrive for other reasons. The island is part of the Ubin-Khatib Important Bird Area (IBA), where many endangered bird species live.

Pulau Ubin is also one of the largest (and one of the last) rural areas in Singapore – there’s no urban development and no centralized public transportation here, and wooden jetties and villages are more common than cement constructions.

The island is just a short boat ride away from Changi Point Ferry Terminal and makes for a perfect day trip. Singapore’s last-remaining kampong is here, set among coconut rubber plantations and hiking trails that crisscross through the tropical forest.

The beaches at Pulau Ubin are small and remain underdeveloped. They’re often hidden among the mangroves, offering privacy, as well as stunning views over the water. The best ones to visit are in the section known as Chek Jawa wetland beaches. Getting here requires transportation or a 40-minute walk from the main port.

Chek Jawa has both rocky and sandy beaches, a great swimming lagoon, and a large coastal area covered in forest. There are only basic facilities in the area, so bring your own food if you want to hang around and have a picnic.

10. Kusu Island

Kusu (or Tortoise) island can be accessed by ferry from Marina South Pier. The island attracts tourism because of its pristine beaches and beautiful blue lagoons, but remains a quiet off-the-beaten-path location, so you won’t find particularly large crowds. There’s great snorkeling off the coast and a beautiful Chinese temple open to visitors.

Overnight stays at the island aren’t allowed, and there are no food stalls available. If you’re hoping for a meal by the sea, make sure you bring drinks and snacks with you, so you can take advantage of the picnic tables and BBQ pits.

11. Pasir Ris Beach

For families with kids, it doesn’t get any better than this beach, located in one of Singapore’s largest parks. Palm trees and a lush mangrove forest line up the narrow 6.6-kilometer-long beach, while clean, transparent waters and a soft descent, perfect for swimming, await you on the other side.

Nearby, the tranquil park offers opportunities for rope climbing, pony rides, and BBQ pit rental. You can arrange a number of water sports experiences, have a picnic under the trees, and even camp in certain areas of the park.

Or you can head off into the six-hectare mangrove forest to explore its boardwalks and climb the bird-watching tower to catch sight of blue-eared kingfishers and milky storks.

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